A week or so ago I was contacted by Ed Saunt of the Hounslow Chronicle who wanted to write a piece about me and my former association with Nick Griffin, the Chairman of the British National Party (BNP), in the wake of his recent appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme.
I'm always happy to be of assistance, particularly in the case of young local journalists looking to showpiece their talents, and to put my specialist knowledge of the far-right to good use. Heaven knows I've been offering to do so for the past eighteen years but, as someone who has issues with the Labour Party even if only in a strictly local context, many of the most vociferous anti-racists, being possessed of a political conflict of interests, have preferred to perpetuate the myth that I am still in some way involved with the far right and of course, in order to keep that particular ball in the air, have had to dismiss any intelligence that I am able to offer as a "smokescreen".
So when Ed informed me that he wanted to carry a major piece on me and on my experiences with the far-right I agreed, but insisted that we should conduct the interview by e-mail where there would be a paper trail leading back to what I had actually said if in the event that I was in any way misquoted or misrepresented (that wasn't how I actually put it, but he was smart enough to understand).
Whilst I maintain that this was the correct thing to do in view of the sensitive nature of the subject (and Ed readily agreed to my proposed way of doing things anyway), as it happened I needn't have bothered. The two-page article demonstrated that Ed had a talent - unusual amongst local journalists, particularly the younger and more ambitious ones - for being able to write a feature which catches the eye and draws the crowds (inasfar as the Chronicle readership could be described as a crowd) without having to resort in any way to fabrication or distortion. Indeed, after a well-written and cogent introduction, the larger part of the feature consisted of a simple but effective reproduction of the question and answer interview that we had conducted, warts and all.
I am grateful to Ed and to the Chronicle for the mature approach which was taken in the production of this feature and would be happy to help them, or any other potential interviewer who is prepared to adopt the same ethics in seeking out good information on this most topical of subjects.
The full text of the interview can be found here.
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I believe people change. Anyone in Hounslow can see you're a decent guy and the Community Group speaks on behalf of residents and are indeed, still part of the community unlike politicians of the established party. I believe the interview you gave was brave. And good of you to carry it out in saveable format. While the journalist is ethical, don't be surprised if the LibLabCon on Hounslow Council try to use this next year at election time in a desperate attempt to score points. Our sitting MP did try to confuse people about your past by giving the impression in the Commons that you still felt the same way.
ReplyDeleteThe BNP are still obsessed with race and you're certainly not that way at all.
Thanks very much for your kind words Prole, and thanks also for the follow. I'm just trying to work out how this thing works so that I can reciprocate - I'll be right with you when I catch up.
ReplyDeleteThe Liberal Democrat group on Hounslow Council have no intension of making Phil's past an issue, as I said back in 2006: http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000204/letter_time_to_lay_the_past_to_rest.html If people are to "Walk Away..." they must be given the space to contribute to debate in the political mainstream. Of course it takes time to build trust, but Phil Andrews' work over many years now as an ICG councillor demonstrates his commmitment to a cohesive society. As Phil has been part of the Conservative-Community Group administration I can't believe the Conservatives will make an issue of his past either! Andrew
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